International House Sitting: How to Find Sits, Save on Accommodation and Travel the World

What is international house sitting? International house sitting means living in someone’s home in another country, looking after their pets, house and garden while they are away, in exchange for free accommodation. No money changes hands between you and the homeowner, but you will usually pay for a platform membership (roughly $20 to $260 a year), your own travel and any background checks.

Most people start with local sits to build reviews, then apply abroad. In the Schengen area, visa-exempt visitors can stay 90 days in any 180, and house sitting is not a work visa.I never believed I could afford to travel the world until we became international house sitters. Ten years, and a great many dogs, cats, guinea pigs and horses later, house and pet sitting is still how we travel, and it has changed our lives in an extremely positive and meaningful way.

By swapping pet and home care for a place to stay, we cut out most of the cost of accommodation and get to live in places we could never otherwise have afforded, from a Tipperary house sit with seven dogs to an outdoor office among the flowerpots at a stone house in Cyprus. This guide is everything I have learned: how international house sitting works, what it really costs, how the main platforms compare in 2026, how to handle visas and the new EU border rules, and how to land your first sit.

International house sitting: fast facts

Focusing on Europe specifically? My guide to housesitting in Europe goes country by country. This page covers how international house sitting works worldwide.

What Is International House Sitting and How Does It Work?

In-home pet sitting, or becoming an international house sitter as it is known generically, is an ideal way to travel almost expense-free because you are trading first-class pet-sitting services for free accommodation. As a professional house sitter I get to enjoy the company of animals, which is not possible when you travel a lot, and yes, we house sit for free.

The mechanics are simple:

1. Join a house sitting platform and build a profile with your experience, references and police check.
2. Homeowners post a listing with their dates, pets, location and what they expect from a sitter.
3. You apply with a personal message. If they like your profile, they will reach out, and you should always ask for a video call.
4. Agree the details in writing: dates, pet routines, chores, house rules, wifi, use of a car and who to call in an emergency.
5. Arrive, get the handover and settle in. Look after the pets and home as if they were your own, and send regular photo updates.
6. Leave the house as you found it, then both of you leave reviews. Good reviews are what get you the next sit.

Why we love it

• Affordable travel accommodation. Staying in a home for free in exchange for caring for a property, pets or plants can slash travel costs. We get to enjoy places we may never have been able to afford.
• Cultural immersion. You live like a local, in neighbourhoods you would never have picked from a hotel list. For foodies like us, it is the perfect way to try local cuisines, explore farmers’ markets and shop seasonally. Read more about food culture. You also find out what the cost of living is really like, and we have been constantly surprised.
• Animals. We have always been a family of dog lovers. Over the years we have looked after mastiffs, border collies, boxers, Great Pyrenees, St Bernards and greyhounds, plus numerous guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, sheep, goats, horses, reptiles, hamsters and more cats than you can shake a stick at.
• A try-before-you-buy expat life. House sitting is a brilliant way to find out whether you like life as an expat and to explore countries you might retire to.

Is House Sitting Really Free? What It Actually Costs

The accommodation is free, but house sitting is not entirely cost-free. It is also real work: dog walks in all weather, cleaning up after animals and being tied to someone else’s home. Here is what to budget for.

Put together, the cost is small compared with paying for rent or hotels for weeks or months. Just don’t believe anyone who says it costs nothing. I’ve also written about what happens when it goes wrong in when a housesit goes bad.

10 Years of International House Sitting: What I’ve Learned

We began house sitting for friends, family and family friends, which gave us our first taste of the Caribbean and various places in Ontario. Our first international sits were in Mexico, in Chelem and Progreso on the Yucatán Peninsula, where we had planned to retire. As much as we enjoyed Mexico, it wasn’t a place for us to settle down permanently, and we wanted to explore Europe. Read more about moving to Mexico, life in Chelem and living in Mexico: the pros, cons and best places.

From those Mexican sits we listed our profiles on international house sitting websites, and our first platform sit was in Ireland. We haven’t looked back. Since then we have house sat in Ireland, France, Spain, England, Northern Ireland and Cyprus, including a six-month sit in Northern Ireland, where we enjoyed the culture, the food and sites like the Glens of Antrim and the Game of Thrones locations, and more than a year house sitting near Mojácar in Almería, in Palomares, Vera Playa and Tíjola (read my Mojácar guide).

We have experienced great house sits and not-so-great house sits. What I have learned is that regardless of the house, the pets or the owners, you are the one who makes a house sit great. We have also learned not to stress ourselves, and how to deal with the types of stress that come with travelling this way. We have had several long sits with no pets and others with everything from horses to tortoises, but the most meaningful ones are the ones with animals to love and cuddle.

With several sits we have also been asked to help with renovations, put in new kitchens, collect rents from tenants, accept deliveries and do all kinds of day-to-day jobs. That is exactly why it pays to clarify responsibilities before you say yes.

These days we have made a home base in Ireland, which lets us explore all of Ireland and makes England and the rest of Europe an easy hop for weekends, holidays and more house sitting. It makes us sound so double-0 sevenish.

My house-sitting travels have also been featured by BBC Radio Ulster and in the Wall Street Journal, and I have written articles for House Sitting Magazine.

How to Become an International House Sitter: Step by Step

Step 1: Start local and build references

This is how we started, and it is the best advice I can give. Sit for friends, family and family friends first, and look for local sits in your own area. Local sits are how you build references and recommendations. You will usually have a vehicle, which is a bonus, especially in rural areas where it can be difficult to find a sitter without a car. You could travel an entire country house sitting with a car and see places you might never have visited on vacation.

With international sits, don’t be afraid to apply. Just go for it, because you never know where you may end up. We found it much easier to get an international sit when we were actually in or near the country we wanted to visit. It is tough to get a sit in Australia when you are in Canada, as homeowners may not have faith in your ability to get there. Once you have a few sits and some great references, it becomes much easier and you will often be invited back to the same place.

Step 2: Build a profile that stands out

List all your animal experience, from grooming, dog walking or cat bathing to rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, reptiles and birds. Did you have a horse or pony and take lessons, learning to groom, feed, water and clean up after horses?

Mention volunteering and fostering. Have you volunteered at a spay/neuter clinic, raised money for a local animal refuge, adopted or fostered an animal, or looked after a friend’s dog for a day or two? All of it counts.

Add your work skills, especially for sits at B&Bs or small resorts. Caretaking is a growing area of house sitting and often involves employment. The Caretakers Gazette is a good resource for these positions.

Add a clear photo of yourselves and a short, friendly introduction, and keep your references up to date.

If you need income to fund your travels, look at remote work. You would be amazed how many people living in Mexico work as forum moderators, online captioners, online salespeople and virtual assistants. Others create their own jobs with property management companies or paid pet minding and walking.

Join the Facebook groups for the area you want to sit in. There are platforms and groups for the UK, USA, Mexico, Australia, France and New Zealand where you can connect with homeowners and other sitters.

Step 3: Get your paperwork ready

• Police checks. I highly recommend getting one from your local police service. Most homeowners will be reassured by it, and you can link it to your profile.
• References file. Keep a computer folder with your references, their contact details, scans of your police checks, insurance information and anything else that applies to your sits, somewhere you can find it quickly.
• Driving details. Gather your driving licence, your driving record and your vehicle insurance information, and check whether you need an International Driving Permit for the country you are sitting in. If the homeowner’s car is available, make sure their insurance covers you as a driver before you take the wheel.

Step 4: Join a platform (or two)

House sitting platforms are websites where you register a profile, pay an annual fee and load up your references, police checks, previous experience and a good profile. Some cover one country, others the whole world. For homeowners, many platforms are free, such as HousesitMatch, Mind My House and Housesitters UK. Use the comparison table below to choose.

Step 5: Apply, and keep applying

In our early days I reckon we applied for over 60 sits between all the platforms, and it took at least 30 applications to get our first overseas sit. One annoying factor is that you apply and never hear anything, not even a thanks-but-no-thanks. In other cases we got the sit but the homeowner backed out. The trick is to be persistent and keep trying. You may have to apply for 50 sits before you get one, but eventually you will.

It also pays to be polite and friendly. We applied for a sit in Yorkshire and were turned down at first. I contacted the homeowner to say thanks for considering us and to keep us in mind if they ever needed someone in the future. They did just that, and we got the sit. In a few cases we have met homeowners when we didn’t get the sit and were first in line for the next one, particularly when we really wanted to sit in the area.

Step 6: Ask the right questions before you say yes

• How many pets are there, what are their routines and health needs, and how long can they be left alone?
• Who is the vet, and who is the emergency contact if you can’t reach the homeowner?
• What are the chores, including garden, bins, deliveries and any rental properties or renovation work?
• Is wifi included and reliable enough for your work? Can you use a car, and are you insured to drive it?
• Are utilities and household costs covered, and is there an expenses float for the pets?
• What is the plan if the sit needs to be cancelled by either side?

Ask for a video call, and get the important points in writing. If the tasks sound unrealistic, the pet load is overwhelming or communication is poor before you even arrive, treat that as a warning sign.

Step 7: Keep the homeowner happy

Regular updates, such as photos of the pets or a quick message about how the day went, build trust and ensure a smooth experience for both parties. Then leave a review and ask for one in return. Reviews are the currency of house sitting.

Best International House Sitting Platforms in 2026: Prices and Comparison

Prices and rules change, so check each site before you pay. These are the platforms we use or have researched, with 2026 pricing. When we were starting out, every one of our sits came through four of them, and we applied for more than 60 sits before we had the reviews to open up more platforms.

What changed at TrustedHousesitters

TrustedHousesitters is quite likely the largest range of sits and sitters on the internet, so there is a lot of competition, and it costs more than most. At the end of 2025 it introduced a $12 (£9) booking fee per confirmed sit on its Basic and Standard plans, which caused a lot of grumbling among long-term members. If you joined before 8 December 2025 the fee only applies from your next renewal. If you do more than a handful of sits a year, the Premium plan is likely to work out cheaper. See this full explanation of the booking fee for the details.

How many platforms do you need?

Start with one and build your reviews there. Once you have a few sits behind you, add a second platform with a different pool of homeowners. I recently discovered an even better way to search these platforms, because some of the search functions on each site are not very good: Housesitsearch lets you search among the housesitting platforms in one place.

House Sitting Abroad: Visas, Passports and Stay Limits in 2026

House sitting is generally not paid employment. It is an exchange of services for accommodation. But rules differ from country to country and border officers can treat any “job” as work, so always check the official immigration website for your passport and destination before you go. Carry your sit confirmation, the homeowner’s contact details and proof of onward travel, and never misrepresent your plans to a border officer. This is general information, not legal advice.

If you have an EU or Irish passport, your options are wide open. We are lucky to hold Irish passports, which lets us house sit in the UK and across the EU without watching the Schengen clock. Obtaining ours wasn’t as easy as we thought. If you have European ancestry, by being born in Europe or through a parent or grandparent, you can read how to get an EU passport. Note that the UK is no longer in the EU, so a British passport doesn’t give you the same freedom it once did. It’s also worth reading my pros and cons of living in Canada, Mexico, France and the UK.

If you want to stay longer than a visitor allowance, look into long-stay visas. Australia and New Zealand have plenty of sits listed on their own regional platforms. You may also want to look into working as a digital nomad, and A Complete Guide to Finding Gigs As A Digital Nomad is a must-read that is updated frequently.

[IMAGE: Alt: Small fluffy dog waiting at the table while I finish remote work on an international house sit]

Where to House Sit: Places We’ve Sat and Explored

We wanted to spend quality time in Europe and explore the UK, Spain, France and all those fabulous European spots we had dreamed of. House sitting lets you do exactly that, and here are some of the places our sits have taken us, with the guides I wrote from each:

• France: travelling in France
• Mexico: moving to Mexico and living in Mexico
• Ireland: 2 days in Dublin and hidden gems in Ireland
• Northern Ireland: best day trips from Belfast, the Glens of Antrim and the Game of Thrones sites
• England: 2 days in London, hidden gems of London, waterside pubs in Warwickshire, things to do in Oxford, visiting Sonning, Berkshire and things to do in North Yorkshire
• Spain: visiting the Alhambra, unique places to visit in Spain and Salobreña
• Cyprus: what to do in Paphos and the food of Cyprus
• Canada: 11 things to experience in Toronto

For Canadians: house sitting for snowbirds is a great way to escape the Florida blues, and it means you can get to places you might not otherwise see without waiting around for hurricanes in the southern US.

10 International House Sitting Tips

1. Know how long you can stay and whether you need a visa. See the visa section above, and check the official government site for your passport before you book.
2. Consider dual citizenship. If you or your parents were born in an EU country you may be eligible for a passport, which lets you stay much longer and may even let you work or retire in places like Spain. Read how to get an EU passport.
3. Sort your banking. Banking is easy in the age of technology. We downloaded our bank apps to our phones and computers and pension money goes directly into our accounts. Tell your bank and credit card companies you are going abroad, and look for a bank or card with low or no international ATM fees.
4. Keep your income flowing. My husband gets his Post Office pension and I work online doing marketing, content writing and social media management for people all over the world. If you are an expat, look into the reciprocal pension arrangements countries like Australia and Canada have with the UK and Ireland.
5. Get police checks from your local police service. Most homeowners are reassured by them and you can link them to your profile.
6. Check your driving and insurance. Carry your licence and, where needed, an International Driving Permit, and make sure the homeowner’s car insurance covers you. Driving on the left takes some getting used to.
7. Keep a digital folder with your references, police checks, insurance and contacts, so you can send them the moment a good sit appears.
8. Check your healthcare cover. Rules differ between provinces, states and countries, so speak to your provider before you go and arrange out-of-country cover. Every country has some healthcare system you can pay into, and prices vary a lot.
9. Sort your phone. Make sure your cell phone is unlocked before you go, and buy a SIM or eSIM in the country you are sitting in. Sign up to WhatsApp, which is a free calling system for mobile.
10. Carry a good international adaptor, ideally one with a USB port for charging. If you’re unsure, read my guide on whether you need a voltage converter for Europe.

House Sitting for Digital Nomads and Remote Workers

Many house sitters are also digital nomads, and good wifi will be very important to them. Check with the homeowner what the connection is like before you accept. We always use a VPN when travelling, and in one case we paid for a higher level of wifi for our needs after asking permission. We can run a business as digital nomads from whatever country we are in, as long as there is great wifi, which can sometimes be problematic.

The Downsides: Red Flags and Sits That Go Wrong

It isn’t all unicorns and rainbows. We have had a small number of sits that were genuinely bad, including one I wrote up in full: The Homeowner From Hell is a cautionary tale. Things to watch for before you accept:

• unrealistic chores, or homeowners who want you to run their renovations, rent collections or a whole household
• an overwhelming pet load for the time you will be out of the house
• homeowners who won’t do a video call or won’t put expectations in writing
• requests to look after elderly parents or teenagers. In the Facebook groups I belong to this is discussed more and more, and I think it is wrong. They need an appropriate carer
• a home in poor condition, especially long-vacant houses with damp or plumbing problems

You are allowed to say no, and you are allowed to leave a sit that isn’t safe.

International House Sitting for Homeowners

For the homeowner, this is a fantastic way to make sure your home is taken care of. If you go away for any length of time, kennels can be very expensive and incredibly traumatic for fur babies. And if you have chickens, rabbits or horses, who looks after them? Perhaps you have a vegetable garden or hundreds of potted plants that will die without regular watering. Your empty house could also be robbed, pipes could burst or windows get broken without you knowing.

We have had many long-term sits with no pets, and we are often asked why homeowners would need a sitter when there is nothing to look after. Here is why:

1. We maintain the family home as if it were our own.
2. We take care of the gardens, watering lawns and flowers, mowing and raking.
3. We make sure the pipes don’t freeze, and if they do, we arrange repairs.
4. We collect the mail and deliveries.
5. We provide a presence in the home so you are reassured that everything is taken care of.
6. In some cases we have helped homeowners collect rents from rental properties, call plumbers and much more.
7. We provide peace of mind and security, and no squatters.

International House Sitting Resources and Communities

• HouseSitting: The Ultimate Lifestyle Magazine: a really good resource with loads of tips and stories about house sitting around the world. I have written a few articles for the magazine.
• Housesitting World: tons of information and lots of people contributing questions and answers. A really helpful group.
• Housesitting Cafe: another Facebook group, a terrific place to ask questions and post your availability.
• Housesitting Magazine Group lots of interesting information and folks to chat with.
• HousesitMatch on Facebook growing fast, with a helpful community.
• There are many more specific groups on Facebook if you search for house sitting, including groups for Panama, Spain and housesitters who sail.

If you are also thinking of moving abroad permanently, read My Move to Europe: 23 personal stories, and explore my full Living Abroad guides.

International House Sitting FAQs

What is international house sitting?

International house sitting is an exchange where you stay in a home in another country and look after the house and, usually, the pets while the owners are away, in return for free accommodation. No money changes hands between sitter and homeowner, although sitters normally pay for a house sitting platform membership and their own travel.

Is house sitting really free?

The accommodation is free, but the rest isn’t. Budget for platform memberships (roughly $20 to $260 a year), any per-sit booking fee, police checks, travel to and between sits, food, insurance and a few nights of accommodation between sits. It is still far cheaper than renting or staying in hotels, and it comes with real responsibilities: pet care in all weather and looking after someone else’s home.

Do house sitters get paid?

Generally no. Most house sitting is an unpaid exchange of care for accommodation, which is why it is usually treated differently from paid employment, although immigration rules vary by country. Caretaking and B&B positions are sometimes paid, but they are a different category of work.

How do I get my first international house sit?

Build references first with local sits for friends, family and homeowners near you. Then complete a strong profile with your animal experience, a police check and references, join one or two platforms and apply persistently. Personalise every application and stay polite if you are turned down. It took us around 30 applications to land our first overseas sit, and we applied for more than 60 in our early years.

Which house sitting platform is best for beginners?

Low-cost platforms such as MindMyHouse (about $29 a year), HouseCarers (about $50) or Mindahome for UK sits (about £20) are a low-risk way to start and often have less competition. TrustedHousesitters has the most listings worldwide but costs more, and since December 2025 its Basic and Standard plans charge a $12 per-sit booking fee, so many sitters add it once they have a few reviews.

Do I need a visa to house sit abroad?

For short stays you usually don’t need a visa if you are a visa-exempt visitor, but you must respect stay limits: 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen area, plus separate rules for Ireland, the UK, Cyprus and Mexico. Since April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System tracks your days automatically. House sitting is not a work visa, so for longer stays look at long-stay or digital nomad visas, or citizenship by descent.

Can I house sit with children, my own pets or as a single person?

Yes, but in my experience it can be harder to be accepted. Some homeowners don’t want children around their pets, and single sitters and sitters travelling with their own animals often find fewer sits available. Being upfront about your situation, building strong reviews and applying only to sits that genuinely suit you all help.

Can you house sit without pets?

Yes. We have had several long sits with no pets at all, because homeowners still want someone to look after the property, garden, mail and deliveries, and to keep an eye out for burst pipes or break-ins. That said, the most meaningful sits for us have always been the ones with animals.

How long do house sits last?

From a few days to six months or more. Many listings are only a week or two, while longer sits of several months suit retirees and remote workers. Our longest single sit in Northern Ireland lasted six months.

What happens if a house sit goes wrong?

Agree expectations in writing before you accept, keep communication and photo updates going, and know your exit plan. If a sit becomes unsafe or the homeowner breaks the agreement, it is fine to leave early and let the platform know. I have written up my own worst experience in full as a cautionary tale on my page about when a housesit goes bad.

So When Are You Beginning Your International House Sitting Journey?

International house sitting is a unique and cost-effective way to experience new cultures while enjoying the comforts of home, and with the rise of online platforms connecting homeowners with trusted sitters it has never been easier. Whether you want a short stay or a long-term arrangement, it is certainly worth considering for your next adventure. Start local, build your reviews, and then go for it.

You might also like: My Move to Europe: 23 personal stories | A housesit goes bad: International Housesitting Nightmares | Housesitting in Europe